REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison

Sometimes I have the opportunity to read a book early because an editor might contact me and let me know that she’s really excited about a particular book. That’s what happened to me with the book Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison.

Cindy Hwang at Penguin contacted me and asked if I was willing to read an edited manuscript of Thea Harrison’s Dragon Bound. Harrison hadn’t published a word in 10 years and frankly I was pretty burned out on paranormal romances (we had a tough time putting together the slate for DABWAHA because at first it was everything by Nalini Singh and The Iron Duke). I promised I would give it a try as long as I could quit after the first chapter if I didn’t like it. Deal struck and manuscript arrived shortly after.

The story opens with Pia, someone with some kind of power bargaining with a witch for a spell which she then uses on Keith, her ex boyfriend who sold her out to some more powerful beings. The way in which Pia bargains with Keith gives me some idea that Pia may actually be one of those characters who thinks things through before jumping off the ledge. (As in, she recognizes she might need a parachute). Unfortunately, it’s Pia’s lack of foresight that leads her into this predicament.

Pia was blackmailed into committing a crime more suicidal than she could possibly have imagined, and she had no one to blame but herself.

Knowing that didn’t make it easier. She couldn’t believe she had been so lacking in good judgment, taste or sensibility.

Honestly what had she done? She had taken one look at a pretty face and forgotten everything her mom had taught her about survival.

Pia and her mother have been on the run for as long as Pia can recall. Her mother drummed into Pia that she could not reveal her secrets to anyone, that it would mean the death of her and endanger those around her. But when Pia’s mother dies, Pia is terribly lonely and in a moment of weakness shares a secret, a small one, with her boyfriend. Her boyfriend brags about this to someone else and this secret carries on the wind to someone very powerful who ultimately forces Pia to steal something from the Dragos Cuelebre, the Great Beast. The Wyr who ruled all Wyrs. And no one steals anything from Dragos and lives:

Then Pia heard the most terrible sound of her life. It started low like a vibration, but one so deep in power it shook her bones. She slowed to a stop along with the other pedestrians. People shaded their eyes and looked around as the vibration grew into a roar that swept through the streets and rattled the buildings.

The roar was a hundred freight trains, tornadoes, Mt. Olympus exploding in a rain of fire and flood.

Pia fell to her knees and threw her arms over her head. Others screamed and did the same. Still others looked around wild-eyed, trying to spot the disaster. Some ran panicked down the street. The nearby intersections were dotted with car accidents as frightened drivers lost control and slammed into each other

Then the roar died away. Buildings settled. The cloudless sky was serene but New York City most certainly was not.

Alrighty.

She pushed upright on unsteady legs and mopped her sweat dampened face, oblivious to the chaos churning around her.

She knew what-‘who-‘had made that unholy sound and why. The knowledge made her guts go watery.

If she were in a race for her life, that roar was the starter pistol. If God were the referee, He had just shouted Go.

And Dragos did indeed yell “Go” to Pia but maybe not for the reasons Pia thought. Being all powerful for century upon century can imbue a certain malaise into even those with limitless wealth and power, or maybe even because of the limitless wealth and power. Dragos sees the theft of an item in his hoarde as an affront, of course, but more importantly, a challenge.

I could see almost immediately what intrigued Dragos based on how the theft was portrayed, what was taken, and what Dragos learns about Pia, bit by bit. There was a great scene early on when Dragos is hunting Pia by a receipt that he found belonging to her. It shows his disconnect with others, his presumptuousness, and most of all, his curiousness (which fits with his dragon being).

Dragos held the receipt up, sniffed and frowned. Even to his sensitive nose the receipt was starting to lose that delicate feminine scent and smell like him.

He strode inside. The penthouse took the Tower’s top floor. Just below that were his offices, meeting rooms, an executive dining hall, training area and other public areas. The third floor down housed his sentinels and other top Court and corporate officials. If it had been a stand alone building, it would have been a mansion. All the rooms and halls were built on a massive scale.

Dragos located the kitchen in the penthouse. It was a foreign place filled with chrome machines and countertops. No one was there. He went in search of the communal kitchen responsible for serving the dining hall and all the sentinels, Court and corporate executives’ needs. He located it on the next flight down.

He strode through the double doors. Half a dozen kitchen staff froze. In the corner a brownie gave a squeak of dismay and faded into invisibility.

The head chef hurried forward, wringing her hands. She was a dire wolf in wyr form but she kept her human shape, that of a tall gray-haired middle-aged woman, during work hours. “This is an unexpected honor, my Lord,” she gushed. “What can we do for you?”

“There are plastic bags with zippers on them. I’ve seen them in commercials,” Dragos said to her. He snapped his fingers, trying to remember the name. “You put food in them.”

“Ziploc baggies?” she asked in a cautious voice.

He pointed at her. “Yes. I want one.”

She turned and snarled at her staff. A faerie leaped to a cupboard then bounded to them. She bowed low to Dragos, head ducked and eyes to the floor, while holding a cardboard box up. He pulled out a baggie, placed the 7-Eleven receipt inside and zipped it closed.

“Perfect,” he said, placing the baggie in his shirt pocket. He walked out, ignoring the babble that rose behind him.

In these pairings between all powerful men and the hapless female, the question is always “why her”. But Pia is very special, not only because of her personality but because of what she is. She is some type of wyr, but what kind I couldn’t figure out. I admit to not being the most well read of fantasy readers so it may be that those who are steeped deep into fantasy genres might guess right away. By keeping Pia’s identity a secret, but unfolding clues along the way to Dragos, there is a certain suspense and momentum provided that allows for a romance to develop without the reader feeling frustrated.

Pia and Dragos get caught up in battle over power and Dragos’ life is placed in jeopardy more than once and Pia gets to do some saving of her own.

Harrison really delivers on the sexual tension with an alpha male dragon wyr who is both possessive and acquisitive and a heroine who has powers we aren’t quite sure about.

I’m really excited about this new series, three stories which will be published this year. In some ways, I felt the feel of the world was similar to Nalini Singh’s Archangel series. It’s modern, contemporary with an old world power overlay. The heat level is about on par with Singh as well. Berkley is holding 10 ARCs to be given away to random commenters. International readers welcome.

The only thing we would ask is that if you are moved, you might say something on the internet somewhere or to a friend, about this book as this is a new author and this series could definitely use some word of mouth help. (This is not a precondition to winning an ARC. ARC giveaways are ALWAYS random).

Let us know what your favorite Dragon story is in the comments to enter your name in our ARC Giveaway. (Mine is the Hurog series by Patricia Briggs). You can pre order the book here.

Updated with winners:

miss_thing: I’ve never been a big aficionado of dragon stories, but I have to say I LOVE the dragons in Michelle Sagara’s “Cast In…” series. They have such style and attitude :-). I particularly love the Arkon, who is the ultimate protective archivist… I’d love to read this book – you had me at the comparison to Nalini Singh.

BethP: I, too, would have to say the Shana Abe Drakon series.

Julie: The only dragon series or stories I have read, and liked are by Katie MacAlister. But this one sounds interesting.

Minh: This book sounds like a blast! My favourite dragon books at the moment has to be the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik, they’re brilliantly crafted with wonderful characters.

Jan: Anne McCaffrey’s dragonrider books were some of the first fantasy books I read as a teenager. I also like Patricia Briggs’ Hurog series. I’m looking forward to this new series by Thea Harrison.

Joseri: Definitely Patricia Briggs Hurog books, the first is probably my most favourite book ever.

Joni: Sounds really interesting. I think I’d have to agree with Kim that my favorite dragon series is the McCaffrey one, although I definitely liked some parts of it more than others.

Lisa Iriarte: I will always be partial to the Dragonsong/Dragonsinger books by Anne McCaffrey.

Rosario: I’ve had a look at the comments, and it looks like I haven’t read any books with dragon main characters (unless you count Marjorie Torrey’s Artie and the Princess, which I read and loved as a child). This one sounds really interesting, though, and I’d love to give it a try.

Dana: I also loved the dragonriders of Pern. This book sounds good.

Share this:

Like this:

Related

Jane Litte is the founder of Dear Author, a lawyer, and a lover of pencil skirts. She self publishes NA and contemporaries (and publishes with Berkley and Montlake) and spends her downtime reading romances and writing about them. Her TBR pile is much larger than the one shown in the picture and not as pretty.
You can reach Jane by email at jane @ dearauthor dot com

I am very fond of dragons, and I am glad to see them receiving their paranormal romance accolades! Deborah Cooke’s “Dragonfire” series is sensational : ) I’d love to read “Dragon Bound”, and I do post online reviews!

I cut my dragon teeth on McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series, and have to admit that Katie MacAlister’s dragons make me laugh. I really should seek out more dragons to read about. This book and the upcoming trilogy sounds promising. I’m a huge believer in word of mouth when it comes to books so I always talk about what I like.

I’ll have to put this on the watch list, especially if I don’t win. :D

I LOVE dragon stories although there aren’t that many available unless you are willing to read straight fantasy (which I’m not) and I’ve heard great buzz about this book. My current favorite dragon shifter series is G.A. Aiken’s (aka Shelly Laurenston) Dragon Kin. Her stories are laugh-out-loud funny, yet still pretty darned erotic.

This book sounds really interesting, and it would definitely be something I would pick up in the bookstore. I also fondness for dragons. My first “dragon” book was Dragonflight by Annce McCaffrey and the subsequent “Dragon Riders of Pern” books. I also enjoyed the historical Smoke Thief by Shana Abe.

I’ve never been a big aficionado of dragon stories, but I have to say I LOVE the dragons in Michelle Sagara’s “Cast In…” series. They have such style and attitude :-). I particularly love the Arkon, who is the ultimate protective archivist… I’d love to read this book – you had me at the comparison to Nalini Singh.

I also love dragons–my daughters’ playroom is even done in dragons… And the best dragons I can think of are Hurog, Dragonriders (though I liked the Harper Hall triolgy most), and Wrede’s Enchanted Forest Chronicles.

I know there are others out there–I just can’t remember them at the moment!

And it isn’t a book, but for those with kids out there “Jane and the Dragon” is a great show (based on three good picture books).

My favourite books with dragons are by Mary Brown – The Unlikely Ones, When Pigs Fly, Master of Many Treasures and Dragonne’s Egg (now they are all combined in Here there be Dragonnes). I also really liked Joanne Bertin’s Last Dragonlord series.

I read “The Hobbit” and “The Hero and the Crown” in 6th grade, and these books were my first introduction to dragons and Fantasy in general. It was “The Blue Sword” (the dragon-free sequel (though written before) to The Hero and the Crown) that got me hooked on Fantasy – my first reading love/obsession.

Oh please, oh please–this sounds just great. I have loved dragon books since childhood (My Father’s Dragon, anyone?). As an older reader, I discovered Tea With the Black Dragon (R A MacAvoy), Elizabeth Kerner’s trilogy(Song in the Silence is the first), but Carol Berg’s Song of the Beast is my favorite, with Briggs’ Hurog books a close second. All have very strong romantic elements and the dragons are great!

Great timing as tomorrow is St. David’s Day – the patron saint of Wales. The Red Dragon is a proud symbol of the Welsh independence and sits in center of the national flag. Deborah Cooke and Mary Jo Putney are my guests tomorrow to celebrate St. David’s Day – both are Dragon fans!

I love dragons stories! YAY! More dragon luv. I just recently started reading them and really enjoy MacAlister and Aiken. Since today is my birthday and it’s been horrible so far. (I couldn’t save a dying kitty I found on my way to work, then at work we were locked out of our computers!! AARRRGH damn now I’m gonna cry) I really needed a little good news. Thanks for the good news!!

I was going to name an actual grown-up book or two, but does anyone else know The Paper Bag Princess, by Robert Munsch? It may be a picture book, but it’s got to be my #1 anyway! It has a kick-ass heroine, too.

I am just mentioning what others have said McCaffery’s Dragonriders of Pern series; Robin McKinley Dragonhaven and I do enjoy G.A. Aiken’ series as well. They are just plain fun. Deborah Cooke also has a dragon series.

Song In The Silence by Elizabeth Kerner was my first dragon into man romance book and sparked my whole obsession with dragons. Rhapsody by Elizabeth Haydon has dragons and is also a favorite of mine. And my favorite trilogy The Farseer has dragons but they don’t become important until the last book.

I admit to a soft spot for McCaffery's Dragonriders of Pern series; I absolutely loved those books when I was around 12-14. But my favourite is probably the the Hurog series. I find those books extremely satisfying.

My favorite dragon story is Can’t Get Enough by Shelly Laurenston. It’s the story of the grandfather from the Dragon Kin series under her alter ego G.A. Aiken. CGE is a short story in the anthology (Everlasting Bad Boys). I usually don’t read anthologies but I love the Dragon Kin series and CGE is actually a pretty filling read.

I’m really looking forward to this book. Quite a few people have good things to say about it!

I’m sad to say that I haven’t read many books on dragons. The only one that comes to mind is the series by G.A. Aiken (I love her books!) I’m going to keep an eye on this thread to add to my reading list :)

I adore Shana Abe’s drakon books – they always leave me longing to write like her – but my absolute favorite dragon book is R. A. MacAvoy’s Tea with the Black Dragon. It’s a fantasy novel, a detective story, and a love story all in the same book. It was written in 1983, so some of the terminology and technology have aged poorly since I first read it as a kid in the mid-eighties, but I still love that it mashes up genres and features a fifty-something heroine.

This sounds good! I liked Katie McAlister’s dragon stories, especially the idea of clans and the spin about their treasures, but then was unsatisfied by the lack of growth or tone or something. I didn’t care for a series where it seemed the dragons were kind of silly, I don’t recall it’s name. I like the idea of Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Were Hunter dragons, but there has only been one short story devoted to dragons.

Honestly I’d love to find a good dragon series. So I am excited about this one!

To go with the crowd I love G.A. Aiken’s dragon series, but my favorite and first dragon series was the Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede. Cimorene and Mendanbar remain one of my favorite couples of all time. I love dragons, and romantic fantasy/fantasy romance, so I’ll definitely be checking out both Dragon Bound and the others suggested here.

I read Tea with the Black Dragon – so long ago I can’t remember what it was about. I feel a re-read coming on. Eileen Wilks has dragons in her Lily Yu series – I love those books. Dragon Bound does sound great. I’ve got it on my list to read – but I wouldn’t mind winning one.

I like a lot of dragon books — but I’ll agree with the Pern and Hurog comments. There was one pubbed a while ago called The Last Dragonlord I enjoyed, and the dragons in Lackey’s One Good Night. Oh, and of course Novik’s dragon series…and Chris Rowley’s Bazil Broketail. Yeah, I like dragon books :).

I have been looking forward to this book since Nalini mentioned it on her blog. My favorite dragon series right now is Deborah Cooke’s Dragonfire series, the next book comes out in May and I cannot wait!! I also like G.A. Aiken/Shelly Laurenston Dragin Kin series and Sahnna Abe’s Drakon series.

Holly has been talking this one up over at Book Binge and i would love a chance to win a copy. Probably my favorite dragon series are GA Aiken’s dragon shifter series and Bianca D’Arc’s Dragon Riders series and of course Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders series

There was a short story I read quite a while ago that was about dragon shifters. I cannot squeeze that title from my brain, but it was the first I had read of them and it was adult. I think I liked the idea since.

I have to say Dragon Riders of Pern although the older books not so much as the latter ones. I also definitely recommend the Hurog books too as well for great fun is G.A Aitken because I love the humour. But my favourite dragon character has to be Kitten from The Immortals series by Tamora Pierce love her and how the dragons are like in that series.

I really love the look of this series – it has def perked my inner spidey senses.

I’d love to have a copy also. My first dragon series was Anne McCaffery’s Dragon Riders of Pern. They were my introduction into adult sci-fi. It’s been so long since I’ve read them they don’t really qualify as my favorite any more. The two that come to mind at the moment are book 1 in Shanna Abe’s dragon series and another author. While I can’t recall the author’s name or the book title, it is an urban fantasy about a girl whos boyfriend is a dragon shifter. He accidentally shifts while taking a shower and completely destroys the bathroom of their house. (In the middle of a snow storm no less.)

This sounds great!
I just read The Enchantment Emporium by Tanya Huff–great book, with dragons. I was also going to mention Jane and the Dragon and The Paper Bag Princess–those were what came to mind first, actually! (I love the theme song to the Jane and the Dragon show…)

I was lucky enough to win an ARC, and I absolutely loved it. It has a freshness to it that has been missing in a lot of new paranormals, with terrific characters (main and secondary), a well-paced mystery, and a funny, sexy romance. I agree with the comparison to Singh, although this book was a bit lighter in tone. I knew there was one more coming out this year, but I’m thrilled to see that there will be two more!

Lately I’ve been suffering from major historical burnout and have been looking at paranormals. I’ve never read a dragon shifter, but this one sounds like so much fun, it’s going on my list. Would love to win a copy.

I love dragon stories. I have always loved Anne McCaffreys dragons. But for fun I have to say G.A.Aikens are hilarious. I would love to read this. I work for a major book company in Canada and would post a review on our company website.lynnflagler@yahoo.com

I have to admit, I haven’t read any dragon books. But this one sounds very interesting and based on the recommendations I have seen here, I will have to give them a try. I have posted reviews before, (not a professional reviewer, more like my own opinions)on Goodreads, Amazon, B&N and my blog. I love finding new books and new authors.

All of these comments remind me of all of my favorite dragon books. I recommended the Patricia Wrede books so many of my students. I loved the snarky Katie MacAlister books and the lovely Shana Abe. But my all time favorite is the Pern Dragons of Anne McCaffrey-she is the grand dame.

For all the fantasy and paranormal romance I’ve read, I’m drawing a blank on dragons outside of McCaffrey’s Pern series. Thank goodness for this thread and all the books mentioned there in – gotta go starting adding ’em all to my TBR list!

This sounds like an awesome new series! My immediate gut reaction was to say that Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series is my favorite, but that’s probably because of how many great books she’s written in the series (my favorite in that series still remains Dragonflight).

But, I remember a book by Vivian Vande Velde called Dragon’s Bait that I loved to reread over and over again when I was a kid. There was some romance in it, and it was a great turn on the virgin sacrifice trope.

(Second on the Patricia C. Wrede too! Apparently I’ve read more dragon books than I realized.)

Oh Hurog was great. I have to say that I was the Pern chick in my youth. I have now passed my collection on to my eldest daughter, and remind her to respect the book by not beating up my sacred tomes ;).
The book looks great. I cannot wait to read it.

I’ve had a look at the comments, and it looks like I haven’t read any books with dragon main characters (unless you count Marjorie Torrey’s Artie and the Princess, which I read and loved as a child). This one sounds really interesting, though, and I’d love to give it a try.

From what you wrote the book sounds interesting so count me in please. Also International? I almost fainted when I saw that, so thanks for the chance to win.
Favorite dragon books? The Inheritance Series. Although that may change since I’ve only recently discovered dragon books in paranormal romance.

The only sad thing is that this is so far down people might miss it, but I also got to read Dragon Bound and I LOVED IT!! Can not wait for the next book in the series and I will be buying this one when it comes out. I read this book in one day. I feel in love with the H/h, she gives him such a hard time and to watch him come around. This book was so well done. If you love a dragon story don’t miss this one.

Ohhh this actually sounds quite good. I have started several dragon stories in the last several years and haven’t liked any of them. The last dragon stories I read and loved were the Pern Dragons of Anne McCaffrey.

Wow, I did NOT know that dragons were so popular in the paranormal romance. Really. The only book (apart from Harry Potter =P) I’ve read that had dragon was the Stormwalker Series by Allyson James. The dragon was the main character’s love interest. Anyway, this book looks, reads awesome. Would love to win an ARC!

I really enjoy Deborah Cooke’s series starting with Kiss of Fire and have recommended them to many of my friends. It’s like reading any paranormal book if you don’t believe to start with this author will change your mind!

I’m not sure what it’s called when you agree or like the same things as said by at least more than ten people before you. It wouldn’t be I tenth that? But in that case I definitely have to say my favorite dragon novels are Katie MacAlister's Aisling Grey series hands down. Great mix of brawn and humor.

This is actually my first time coming across a book like this with the dragon shape shifting into a human and I am immediately drawn to the idea. My favorite dragon story so far is Eon: Dragoneye Reborn and other than dragons it actually has a cool and strong female character which some books don’t have. I wish they supplied this book at my library, it looks so good!

So excited about this book; it looks like such a great story line. I used to LOVE reading Amanda Carpenter’s books and am so glad that she is publishing again, a dream come true. My all time favorite dragon book’s are the Dragonriders of Pern.

Copyright

FTC Disclaimer

We do not purchase all the books we review here. Some we receive from the authors, some we receive from the publisher, and some we receive through a third party service like Net Galley. Some books we purchase ourselves. Login